Patreon Faces App Store Removal Unless It Switches to Apple’s Billing System, Says Apple

Apple has issued a stern warning to Patreon, threatening to remove the creator platform from its App Store if creators do not adhere to its in-app purchasing policies. This ultimatum comes as part of a broader initiative where Apple demands that all subscriptions be processed through its own payment system, effectively eliminating the option for unsupported third-party billing. In a recent blog post and communication to creators, Patreon revealed that it has embarked on a 16-month migration process to transition all creators to Apple’s in-app purchase system by November 2025.

As part of this transition, Patreon plans to shift to subscription billing by November 2024. Creators will face the decision of whether to increase their membership prices to account for Apple's commission fees or absorb these costs themselves. Additionally, creators will have the option to postpone their migration to November 2025. However, if they choose to delay, they will be unable to offer memberships through the iOS app until they comply with Apple’s in-app purchasing requirements, which will take effect this November.

This situation highlights the ongoing controversy surrounding Apple’s App Store rules, which critics argue are applied inconsistently. This issue has been particularly notable in the wake of lawsuits from developers like Epic Games, which accused Apple of antitrust violations. Although Epic largely lost the case— with the court ruling that Apple was not a monopolist—it did mandate that Apple allow links to other payment options within apps. Consequently, Apple now permits developers to direct users to external websites for subscriptions but imposes a reduced commission rate of 27% instead of the standard 30%. For auto-renewing subscriptions in the second year, the rate drops to 12% instead of 15%. However, the implementation of these rulings is still being contested in court.

Patreon had previously operated in a somewhat ambiguous space regarding Apple’s payment rules. Some subscription-based services were available in the app, while others were not, leading to questions about why Patreon seemed to avoid the stringent requirements that apply to many other developers. According to Patreon CEO Jack Conte, most users discover creators and content outside of the platform itself, which may have contributed to this leniency. Although the company clarified that it did not have a special agreement with Apple, it had managed to circumvent some in-app billing rules for an extended period.

The recent demands from Apple have left Patreon feeling pressured and dissatisfied. In its blog post, the company acknowledged that neither of the two options—raising subscription prices or absorbing the commission costs—was favorable for creators. “Most creators on Patreon use subscription billing,” the post stated. “Over the past few years, we’ve slowly rolled it out, tackling each hurdle that has come up to ensure that the migration is not disruptive for creators. That’s the way we like to roll out products. Unfortunately, because of Apple’s timelines and constraints, we can’t continue to do it this way. Instead of helping creators move to subscription billing if and when they feel like it’s right for them, we’re now forced to migrate all creators on Apple’s timeline.”

In response to these challenges, Patreon reminded creators that Apple’s fees are limited to transactions made through the iOS app. Creators are still free to maintain their current pricing on web and Android platforms. The company also encouraged creators to direct their subscribers to a Help Center article that outlines the implications of Apple's fees, allowing subscribers to understand the impact of their purchasing choices.

This situation underscores the broader tensions between platform policies and the operational autonomy of content creators, raising questions about the future of subscription-based models in a landscape increasingly dominated by major tech companies. As the migration process unfolds, the implications for both Patreon and its creators remain to be seen, particularly as they navigate the complexities of compliance and consumer expectations in an evolving digital economy.